Kapono Gets Half Right

Rummaging through the wreckage of UCLA’s 96-86 loss to Arizona on Saturday produced at least one positive thing. And considering the Bruins scored 58 points in the first half and 28 in the second, it’s not difficult to guess where it was found.

Jason Kapono regained his first-half shooting form, scoring 14 of his game-high 25 points and making four of his seven three-point baskets. He looked for shots early and made them often, making three three-pointers in the first five minutes and hitting another--from NBA range--late in the half.

It marked the first time in 12 games the 6-foot-7 junior had reached double figures before halftime. Oddly, the only other instances he did so also came in Bruin losses--he scored 16 in the first half against Pepperdine and 17 against Ball State.

However, he moved from forward to point guard after the Pepperdine game Nov. 28 because Cedric Bozeman was injured. Kapono’s scoring dipped, but UCLA went on a winning streak.

“We were 10-1 through my point-guard tenure,” he said. “I’m proud to say that.”

Now Bozeman is back. And if the Arizona game is a fair indication, Kapono will get more open shots. His all-around game did not suffer, either--he had eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Kapono’s scoring average of 18.6 leads the team, and his rebound and assist averages of 6.0 and 2.7 are career bests.

“I’m back at my natural position and that’s good, but I enjoyed point guard,” he said. “I focused on getting my teammates involved and thinking pass first. It made me a better player.”

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UCLA (13-4, 5-2 Pacific 10) has not dropped two in a row since losing at Arizona and Arizona State two years ago. The Bruins responded by going on an eight-game winning streak.

Last season, they bounced back from a 29-point loss to California by winning six in a row.

Steve Henson